T35 Alumni Shine at the 6th National Big Data Health Science Conference
The NIH-funded T35 Big Data Health Science Summer Research Training Program For infections Diseases continues to shape the next generation of researchers, providing them with the training, mentorship, and hands-on experience necessary to make a meaningful impact in healthcare and infectious disease research. This year, two T35 alumni from the 2024 cohort, Josh Cook and Gulnar Ibramsha, represented the program at the 6th National Big Data Health Science Conference held February 13th-14th, 2025, where they delivered exceptional presentations showcasing both their research and their experiences in the program.
T35 alumnus Josh Cook, a Data Science Master’s student at the University of West Florida, was selected to give an oral presentation at the conference, showcasing the research he conducted during his time in the T35 program. His presentation, “Sexual Orientation Disparities in Cervical Cancer Screening, HPV Testing, and HPV Vaccination Rates: Findings from Nine Years of CDC BRFSS Data,” examined disparities in cervical cancer prevention efforts among individuals of different sexual orientations, using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (CDC BRFSS). His findings contribute valuable insights into the need for targeted public health strategies, provider education, and inclusive healthcare policies to ensure that all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation, have access to life-saving cervical cancer prevention measures.
In addition to presenting his research, Josh shared his experience in the T35 program, emphasizing how its training, mentorship, and hands-on learning opportunities prepared him for a future in data-driven infectious disease research. He credited his mentor, Dr. Swann Adams, for providing invaluable guidance throughout his time in the program, reinforcing the critical role of structured mentorship in shaping emerging researchers.
T35 alumna Gulnar Ibramsha, a Master’s student in Health IT at the University of South Carolina, was selected to present a poster showcasing the research she conducted last summer in the T35 program under the mentorship of Dr. Pieter Baker. Her presentation, “A Big Data Approach to Measure Injection Drug Use (IDU)-Related Infections Among People Living with HIV in South Carolina,” examined the prevalence and distribution of IDU-related infections among individuals living with HIV as part of a larger effort to identify patterns of injection drug use within the general population of South Carolina.
Her work highlights the power of big data in addressing public health challenges and demonstrates the impact of the T35 program in equipping students with the skills and mentorship needed to apply data-driven solutions to real-world healthcare issues.
The T35 program is designed to provide early-career researchers with a strong foundation in data science applications in infectious disease research. Through a combination of structured mentorship, immersive research projects, and professional development opportunities, the program equips students with the skills and experience needed to present their work at national conferences and contribute meaningfully to the field.
The success of Josh Cook and Gulnar Ibramsha at the 6th National Big Data Health Science Conference is a testament to the program’s commitment to training the next generation of leaders in healthcare data science. Their participation highlights the ongoing impact of T35 mentors and research institutions in fostering excellence in the field.
The BDHSC would like to thank the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases for making this program possible through their T35 grant award (T35AI165252).